Portraits to get me going

 Richard at age five, Alice Neel

Reading about the Dublin Contemporary 2011 Exhibition in Dublin I came across this image by Alice Neel: "Richard at age five". It is on show at the Douglas Hide Gallery  and I truly hope I get to see it "in the flesh" so to speak.

I love its simplicity, the image draws me in.

As paintings go, and sculpture actually, I am drawn to portraits, yet I've never (?) tried to paint one. 

Who knows, the new studio-to-be and the images below might just change all that?

Modigliani

Other artist that I love are, among many others...

Modigliani; 

Charlie Toorop; and 

Kees van Dongen 

The lather two are Dutch... there is hope for me yet? :-)

Woman in Black Hat, Kees van Dongen

Self Portrait, Charlie Toorop

Healing mandalas

For more than a decade I've had the desire to attend college. Something I was in the process of doing just before becoming ill thirteen years ago. Every summer I researched courses, both in terms of study- (social science) and creative courses. Every September I had to acknowledge (what I already knew) that I was not able to attend a class for more than an hour at the time (an absolute maximum)... and they are rather hard to come by :-)

So I gave up in a sense, but to fulfill my wish to study in some way, I followed a few correspondence courses through the Open College of the Arts. I studied Understanding Western Art and Starting to Write. The first course took me over 2 years, in stead of the recommended 7 months, but I did it! ... (and have forgotten pretty much all I've learned...) 

Correspondence course are great, but it is solitary.

One course that I kept hoping for to do "for real" was the Art and Design Course run by VTOS an adult education organisation. For years I enquired if it would be possible to do just one module. 

No.

Until this year.

To spare you the details of struggle that I still had to overcome, I did get the opportunity to attend one class.

Weaving with Pascale De Coninck 

Tuesday was my first class.

I loved it!

Being creative in a group, meeting like minded people, learn a new skill, and to my delight I live to tell the tale, is all very positive indeed.

Waiting for my lift home, I sat outside and found this flower- a part of a brooch perhaps? I stuck it in my pocket. A reminder of my first day back to school.

The day after, I received a letter in the post from my 90-plus-year-old friend Wera Goldman Wera is a dance teacher- she still has a few students. This woman is a true inspiration. We only met recently via my puppeteer friend Bentsi in Israel, and we now communicate via post.

I love getting her letters, flamboyant writing, little snippets of life around her, and always something to take my breath away. In her latest letter she wrote about one of her new students who teaches mandala drawing. Wera drew a flower to illustrate... pretty much the same shape as the flower I had found the day before.

I was speechless.

Thank you Wera, and thank you to whomever is looking after me on my journey.

Wera's letter is just one of the synchronicities that are happening right now.

Being aware brings them all to my attention.

Lots of love and healing to you all.

Thanks for coming along on my journey.

Dress Rehearsal

"Dress-Rehearsal"
Plants wrapped up to
protect against the wood preservative being painted
on the wood.
A heavy shower of rain made the
newspaper wrapping open up to look like a dress...

Well it's been a while since I showed up at my own blog. To be honest my energy went to the completion of my studio "The Garden Room" but alas, I'm not in there yet. "All on good time", I keep telling myself. "Be in the moment" is another frequent thought, and "don't fret about it". Hard to do, I must admit.

My dream of a few months ago is making slow progress. But there is progress, and I know it will get done. I also know with absolute certainty that I will love it when I can sit in this gorgeous space and look out over my garden, be closer to it than from anywhere in my house. That I will enjoy the light streaming in, the warmth, and to have a creative space where I can leave my 'things' after a creative adventure and not have to clear the table every time.
I do count myself lucky to have my Garden Room to look forward to.

You know what I look forward to the most?
To share my creativity with others. That really is my biggest dream.
Years ago I used to give Doll and Puppet making classes, but obviously had to give that up when I became ill. Over the years I received letters from people who knew my work and asked if I was still teaching.
I will be! See  Classes for more.
Classes will be very much on a one to one basis, or possibly a group of up to 3 people, and not a whole day, or even more than 2 hours. But... but the fact that I can share my creativity with others again is something that fills my heart with warmth.

Sharing brings a smile to my face.

Sometimes sharing creativity comes in a different way.
Last week I received a message on Facebook from a young man in his early teens. He had read Flying on Little Wings and told me "that it was a great experience for him". This is wonderful to hear, of course.  What is even more wonderful is that it has inspired him to start writing his own book. He posted me a handwritten copy of the first chapter. The book is dedicated to me.
This fills me with gratitude, purely for the fact that my writing/creativity has sparked the confidence in a young lad to write. A bonus greater than money can buy.
Creative work can honestly take on it's own life and for that I am forever grateful.


I also look forward to work with children in my studio. Again on a very small scale. Guiding them to create their own story, either in words, images, sculptures, whatever is right for that child.

For now, I am in a kind of dress rehearsal time I suppose. Getting ready for the real thing! 

As I don't seem to be doing much writing, I thought I'll create some blank notebooks for other to fill!  

Dress rehearsal also in terms of healing. The being in the now and taking each moment as is it, good or more challenging, is a work in progress. I will write a separate post about this at a later stage.

For now, dress rehearsals continue, and so does the completion of my beloved Garden Room. (Work being done as I am writing!)

Further reading:
Further info about the Doll and Puppet making classes, see Classes.
To order your own copy of Flying on Little Wings see here
For more images of the Handmade notebooks and how to order see here
Healing thoughts and progress see here

Isn't she beautiful

I would like to introduce my
Garden Room Studio

The past few weeks have been incredibly exciting.

My dream of about two months ago is really coming true. A place of my own... my studio "the garden room".

Dan created a wonderful strong base to build the studio on. Strong enough to have a rooftop swimming pool... Well we have to dream right...

Christopher helped me to create a new pathway and do a lot of digging, and clearing.

base of studio and new pathway to...

I realised more and more that this project was more than just a building.

It is a statement.

I am back.

flat pack studio!

Last Tuesday my brother and nephews arrived to start the building of the actual studio. Joop had worked out, and build the frame in his workshop in Kenmare. A flat pack studio! All very exciting to see if it would fit!

Duyn Design Team

It did! 

By lunchtime on Tuesday I could see what it would look like.

almost there

The building has been created with so much love and pride that I feel this has been embedded into the wood and makes for a very happy building indeed.

My deepest gratitude to all involved so far. X

Done!!
Isn't she just beautiful!

My Garden Room Studio is much bigger
than it looks from the outside.

Today or in the next few days the electricity will be put in and the studio will be insulated.

I am dreaming of the day I can move in.

I will have the best view of my garden from this lovely, inspiring building.

Lucky me.

Adrian made this video of the building.

See here for pictures of how it was, 

and here to read about my journey back to being an artist
and here for a reminder about the sale of artwork

Back to school Book Offer

Back to school time, 

so here a little light reading 

for all the (young) ones embarking on a new school year, 

and a little book of encouragement for the year ahead.

Or for all of you 

who don't have to pack their bags to get ready for a new academic year, 

but could do with entering an enchanting world for a few minutes.

€15 for two book, including postage to anywhere in the world.

A signed copy of Cirrus Chronicles: A modern day Fairy Tale set in Ireland- suitable for 6-106 year old:

On the first glance at the cover is enough to know you are in for a treat.

(Avondhu)

A signed copy of Flying on Little Wings (paperback):

A book, small enough to fit in ones pocket, it will bring encouragement to a new student, or anyone embarking on a new journey, may it be study, healing, a new job...

A striking artistic achievement. It will bring joy and admiration to many hearts and minds.

(Brendan Kennelly- poet)

 

Five Star Cat

Tilly is looking for a home, 

a good home.

He is a 5 ***** cat after all

Currently living in Ardmore

He has taken a liking to the local

five star hotel

He snuggles up near the patio heaters

but isn't really welcome

Maybe a beautiful cat like Tilly

is not what a hotel is about.

Now Tilly is confined to the house

housebound so to speak

so

If you know of anyone who is looking for a good companion

A cat with class

Update. Tilly has found a new home.

Thanks!